Inbox: Which young players will step up in ‘19? | MLB.com
In the first offseason installment of his Rockies Inbox, Thomas Harding answers many questions from fans that particularly center around what’s in store for the team’s youthful talent as we look ahead to 2019. There are tentatively three or four critical positions (second base, right field, bullpen) up for grabs next season that these young Rockies players could fill—the real question is if they’ll be given the opportunity to do so.
Additionally, a great question is asked about the Rockies television deal and if or when it will be improved upon. According to FanGraphs, the Rockies literally have one of the worst possible TV contracts, as far as revenue for the team is concerned, and will have to wait until after 2020 to renegotiate. When that time comes, they should definitely see a bump in revenue to spend on free agents or resigning valuable young players, but will they still be in their current contention window when the 2021 season arrives?
Kyle Newman of the Denver Post offers a quick glimpse at the budding Seunghwan Oh situation and how it could potentially affect the Rockies’ bullpen already in flux. First reported on Wednesday, Oh is considering returning to his home country of South Korea to pitch in the KBO again so that he can be closer to his family and not so reliant on his translator, Eugene Koo.
Oh was a major stalwart to the back end of the bullpen as the Rockies earned a playoff berth in 2018, and losing him would be a major hit to the club who may already be without Adam Ottavino next year as he enters free agency. Oh posted a 2.53 ERA in 25 games for the Rox this season, and if his beleaguered colleagues Jake McGee and Bryan Shaw don’t improve in 2019, Jeff Bridich will have to spend more money on the bullpen yet again to back up a starting rotation that is built to keep the Rockies in contention.
Colorado Rockies: How would you change Coors Field’s dimensions? | Rox Pile
In an article that might make Brad Ausmus’ and other Coors Field critics’ heads explode, Jake Shapiro of Rox Pile has some fun with wondering how the Rockies could change field dimensions at 20th and Blake. He offers three interesting possibilities, including the option of moving home plate outwards to expand foul territory and shrink the expansive outfield that has given Coors its hitter-friendly reputation—I did not know this, but apparently it’s a change that Dick Monfort has actually considered in the past. Take a look, and you might also imagine how Coors would play if there was no center field fence at all...
Rumors: Grandal, Miley, Morton, Brantley, Myers | MLB.com
MLB.com has all of your hot stove needs warming up on the back burner, and in this post takes a look at the handful of teams that will be in the hunt for a new catcher this offseason—including the Rockies. In particular, Yasmani Grandal and Wilson Ramos are highlighted as possible acquisitions, and the pros and cons of each veteran backstop are examined.
Despite both having career years in terms of OPS+, it’s interesting to note that Ramos, because of his trade from Tampa Bay to Philadelphia, would not cost a team a first-round draft pick due to a qualifying offer, while Grandal would. Who is your preference to complete the battery for the Rockies next year? Anyone not discussed here?